Parkes to be released from hospital

We have learned from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band that Richard Parkes, the band’s Pipe-Major, should be released from hospital during the week of March 15 to continue recovering at home from a stroke suffered on March 8.

Parkes suffered his illness after returning from a trans-Atlantic trip earlier in the month.

According to band business manager Doug Elliott, “It is anticipated that during week commencing 15 March 2004, Richard will be released from the Belfast hospital where he has been receiving medical care since taking ill on 8 March. It is intended that Richard will convalesce at his home, and we know that his many friends and colleagues will understand Richard’s circumstance, and fully appreciate his requirements for a short period of time.

“We are pleased to confirm that Richard has already made encouraging progress, and is beginning to recovery from some of the early difficulties associated with his condition.”

The Field Marshal Montgomery band has not yet indicated whether an interim pipe-major will be appointed while Parkes recovers.

“During Richard’s convalescence, and with Richard’s support, the band management team will make full provision for continuity in the conduct of all of Field Marshal’s activities. Any additional contact arrangements for the band will be issued following our forthcoming management team meeting,” Elliott continued. “We extend our thanks and best wishes to all in the pipe band community.

“Richard and Ruth once again extend their sincere thanks for the overwhelming support which they have received from friends, colleagues, and well-wishers around the world. This has been a source of great inspiration to them both.”

Piper & Drummer Online has been deluged with requests from well-wishers for Parkes’s contact information, and we are pleased to provide it, with the permission of the Parkes family:

Richard and Ruth Parkes
The Cottage, Ardara House
Ballygowan Road, COMBER, CO. Down
Northern Ireland BT23 5PG

Get well Messages may also be posted at the guest book at the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band Web site: www.fmmpb.com.

Stroke has hit other prominent pipers

Barry Ewen, Pipe-Major of the Windsor Police Pipe Band, was hit by a stroke in June 2003. Since that time, Ewen has continued his recovery, and the band has continued under interim Pipe-Major James Stewart.

The famous piper Bob Brown died in 1972 after a long plane journey to Australia. It is now thought that Brown’s condition could have been brought on by deep vein thrombosis, which causes blood clots in major arteries. Deep vein thrombosis can occur after prolonged sitting during long haul flights.

It is not known whether deep vein thrombosis had anything to do with Parkes’s condition.

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